Bowling-slipper.



PATEN'IED MAY l5, 1906.

W. J. BARNBTT.

BOWLING SLIPPER.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 2a, 1905.

A rToRA/E S W/ TNE SSE S.'

AUNITED sTATns PATEN FOF.

BOWLING-SLIPPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 15, 1906.

Application filed July 28,1905. Serial No. 271,661.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM JOHN BAR- Nnr'r, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, inthe county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new andlmproved Bowling-Slipper, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a bowling-slipper for theheel of a shoe ad apted to be used by bowlers on a bowling-alley toprevent the bowler from slipping over the foul-line.

A further purpose of the invention is to provide an effective slipperfor the heel of a shoe which can be readily carried in the pocket andwhenever required may be conveniently and expeditiously applied to andsecured' on the heel and as readily removed from said heel, and also toprovide the heelslipper with an effective attaching medium of suchcharacter as to effectually hold the slipper in place under allconditions of usage, but which will in no manner interfere with themuscular play of the foot.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of theseveral parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed outin the claims. p

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the heel portion of the shoe and theimproved slipper applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of theslipper, the attaching device being shown in normal position; and Fig. 3is a sectional side elevation of a heel and a vertical section throughthe applied slipper, the view being on a smaller scale than thepreceding ones.

A represents a shoe; B, the heel thereof, and O the bowling-slipperattached to the heel of the shoe. The body of the bowlingslipperconsists of a strip 10, of canvas or other stout or strong fabric orpliable material, which strip is of a width about equal to the width ofthe heel of the shoe at its widest point, and of sufficient length toextend up in front of the heel and around the back portion of said heel.The body-strip 10 is provided at its forward end with a hem 11, in whichhem a bar 12 is secured, made of metal,

strong wood, or other stout material, and at the rear end of thebody-strip 1() a deeper hem 13 is formed, through which hem 13 anendless elastic cord 14 is passed, the cord extending out sufficientlybeyond the ends of the hem 13 to provide loops 15 at each side of thesaid body-strip 10.

Tapes 16 of non-elastic yet pliable material are secured by sewing orotherwise to the inner face of the body-strip 10 at the for- `ward hem11 or adjacent thereto, and these tapes 16 are of sufficient length tobe passed through the elastic loops 15 and up across the instep portionof the shoe, where the tapes are tied together.

In the further construction of the bowling slipper or heel a pad 17, ofrubber, is employed, and while the said pad is shown as of polygonalformation it may be given any desired shape. The said pad 17 is securedby cement, stitching, or otherwise to the under face of the body-strip10 between its ends or at that portion of the body-strip 10 whichengages with the tread of the heel when the bowling heel or slipper isin position on the heel of the shoe. The said pad 17 4is shown asprovided with marginal thin flanges 18 to facilitate the stitching ofthe pad to the bodystrip 10; but said flanges may be omitted.Furthermore, the said pad is shown provided with a central cavity 19,which will serve to induce suction when the pad is brought in engagementwith the floor of the bowlingalley; but the said cavity 19 may beomitted, if desired.

When the bowling slipper or heel is to be applied, it is simplynecessary to place the body of the slipper on the floor, place the heelof the shoe on the body, then pass the tapes 16 through the elasticloops 15, and carry the tapes up over the instep of the foot, drawingthe said tapes tight, so as to place the elastic loops 15 under tension,and finally tie the tapes at the instep or other convenient point. Whenthe tapes have been thus carried to position and secured, the forwardhem portion of the improved bowling slipper or heel will have beencarried up to a firm engagement with the front face of the heel, as isshown in Fig. 1, and the rear end portion of the body-strip 10 will havebeen carried up to an engagement with the rear face of the heel, and theparts of the device will be firmly held in osition and prevented fromslipping under all) circumstances of use when TOO IIO

the tapes have been suiiiciently drawn and the elastic loops have beenplaced under proper tension.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. As an improved article of manufacture, a bowlingheel or slipper, consisting of a body portion, front and rear portionsadapted to extend up at the front and at the rear of the heel of theshoe to which it is to be applied, the front portions of the body beingprovided with a sti'lfening member, elastic loops extending fromopposite sides of the rear portion of the body, and tapes attached tothe forward portion of the body, being adapted to be passed through thesaid loops, and a rubber pad secured to the bottom portion of the body.

2. A bowling slipper or heel consisting of a body-strip of stout fabricof greaterlength than the heel and of a width equal to that of the heelof the shoe to which the device is to be applied, the said bodyestripbeing provided with an inserted bar at its forward en d, elastic loopsextending from the side portions to the rear end of the body-strip,tapes of non-elastic material secured to the forward portion of thebody-strip and adapted to be carried through the elastic loops, and arubber pad secured to the under face of the bodystrip between its ends.

3. A bowling heel or slipper, consisting of a body portion adapted tothe back and front of the heel of the shoe to which it is to be appliedand extending in direction of the bottom of the heel, the forward end ofthe said body-strip being stiifened, an attaching medium consisting ofelastic members extending from the rear of the body-strip and nonelasticmembers extending from the forward portion of the body-strip, being'adapted for engagement with the elastic members, and a rubber padsecured to the under face of the body-strip.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM JOHN BARNETT.

/Vitnesses ANTON APPEL, ANDREW STAHL, Jr,

